Snowshoe

ABSTRACT

A snowshoe designed to create an impression of a unique shape in the surface on which it engages. For example, the snowshoe may include a lower surface which creates the impression of an animal footprint in the snow. Other impressions may include fanciful or legendary creatures, or other ornamental or unique shapes. The snowshoe of the preferred embodiment has a body formed as a one-piece molded plastic snowshoe with a binding attached on to it.

[0001] This invention relates to the field of snowshoes and in particular to snowshoes which provide amusement and entertainment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Snowshoes have been used for centuries as an effective and practical method for traversing snow fields. The evolution of snowshoes have gone from the early “tennis racquet” design having a wooden elliptical frame and sinew interlaced straps forming a webbing to modem high strength aluminum alloy frames and polyurethane coated deckings. Snowshoes have evolved from uses derived from necessity into recreational use as well. These uses include back country expeditions, sport uses such as racing, recreational hiking and even emergency rescue uses. The image of a traditional snowshoer as a rugged, back country expeditioneer has changed to include not only sport enthusiasts but also recreational users including children.

[0003] The basic premise with snowshoes is the creation of a “flotation” effect created by the dispersion of the wearer's weight over a large area (relative to the wearer's feet). This flotation effect allows the wearer to walk over the snow layers without falling through. The shape of the snowshoes include the basic “tennis racquet” design, substantially rectangular or oval designs and asymmetrical elongated shapes. These snowshoes typically use a structural frame, formed of high-strength aluminum alloys, a polyurethane decking attached onto the frame, a binding secured onto the frame or the decking and talons on the bottom to improve traction. These snowshoes are designed for traversing the snow fields, and primarily for use by adults.

[0004] There have been few snowshoes intended primarily for use by children. While these prior snowshoes have been designed to be lightweight for use by adults, they still are relative heavy and cumbersome for children. Further, the attention span of many children is not conducive for trekking or hiking. Thus it may be difficult to keep children interested in the use of the snowshoes without some type of additional amusement or entertainment associated with the snowshoe experience.

[0005] One prior attempt at a child's snowshoe used a oval-shaped, molded plastic body having a plurality of perforations formed therein. This particular snowshoe, while light in weight, did not afford any further amusement or entertainment to the child using it. Also, this snowshoe design had a substantially flat, oval-shaped body with a talon attached for traction purposes.

[0006] The prior snowshoes are intended for the function of traversing snow fields. These prior snowshoes were not intended for amusement purposes beyond hiking or running, particularly by children, due to the expense and design of these snowshoes. The prior snowshoes were not intended or capable of leaving unusual or fanciful imprints in the snow for the purpose of amusement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides novel snowshoes that enable a wearer, particularly a child, to be amused and entertained by their use to enhance their snowshoeing experience. The snowshoes of the present invention create a unique imprint in the snow or other surface on which they are used. This unique imprint is enabled by the design of the snowshoe. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this novel snowshoe is formed of an integral, molded plastic body with a binding attached thereto.

[0008] The novel snowshoe, in a preferred embodiment, has a general shape in the form of an animal paw, although other shapes can be used as well. A plurality of “toes” are formed on the front edge of the snowshoe body with “claws” extending outwardly from each of the toes. Raised knuckles are also formed on the toes as well. An aperture is formed near the front portion of the snowshoe. A talon is integrally formed on the snowshoe extending into the aperture. The talon includes a reduced portion which forms a living hinge to allow the talon to pivot into the aperture to increase traction. Claws are formed on the lower edge of the talon. Mounting holes are also created in the upper surface of the talon to attach the binding to the snowshoe. A mounting stud is also formed on the upper surface spaced from the aperture to engage the binding as well. A rear surface pad is formed on the upper surface to provide a gripping surface for the wearer's foot to keep the foot centered on the snowshoe.

[0009] The sidewalls of the snowshoe body form the perimeter of the animal paw print. The height of the sidewalls is important to create the depth of the imprint. The lower surface of the snowshoe body includes a plurality of recesses having differing depths from other areas of the lower surface to provide the impression of the animal paw print. For instance, the claws and knuckles and the aperture have different depths of recesses to provide their respective impressions in the snow. Various other raised walls within the bottom of the snowshoe body provide additional recesses to create the heel portion of the paw print also.

[0010] These structural features combine to form an animal paw print when the snowshoe engages the snow or other surfaces. Other shapes are provided within the scope of the present invention, such as legendary creatures, monsters, aliens, and other fanciful or ornamental shapes. The features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of preferred and modified forms of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the snowshoe of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the snowshoe of FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the snowshoe of FIG. 1 with the binding attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring in more detail to the drawings, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described. Snowshoe 10 is illustrated in a preferred embodiment. It is to be expressly understood that this embodiment is provided for descriptive purposes only, and is not meant to limit the scope of the inventive concept. Other shapes, modes and embodiments of the present invention are included in the claimed invention. For instance, other types of animal paws could be utilized as well as fanciful figures, such as dinosaurs, abominable snowmen, monsters, giants, or the like. Also, other unique or ornamental shapes can be used as well under the inventive scope of the present invention.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, snowshoe 10 includes a body 20 formed in the shape of a large animal paw. Body 20 includes an upper surface 22, contoured side surfaces 24 and lower surface 26. The exterior of the body 20 is formed in the shape of a large animal paw by the contours of the side surfaces 24, the four “toe” portions 32, 34, 36 38 and the heel portion 50. The body 20, in this preferred embodiment, is formed of a single plastic unit. It is to be expressly understood that other materials could be used as well as in forming the body 20. Also, the body 20 can be formed in several pieces as well as in one integral, unitary piece as described in the preferred embodiment. It is to be expressly understood that any particular animal paw or other fanciful, unique or ornamental design could be used as the shape for snowshoe 10.

[0016] Claws 42, 44, 46, 48 extend outwardly from toe portions 32, 34, 36, 38, respectively. Raised knuckles 52, 54, 56 and 58 are formed on the respective toe portions adjacent claws 42, 44, 46, 48. A raised rear pad 60 is formed or attached adjacent the rear of body near heel portion 50. Rear pad 60 includes a plurality of bumps 62 for providing friction engagement with the heel of the footwear of the user. This assists in keeping the heel of the wearer centered on the snowshoe.

[0017] Aperture 70 is formed in the body 20 near the knuckles of the snowshoe. The toe of the footwear of the user is able to pivot into the aperture 70, as discussed below. The sidewalls 74 extend downward in the aperture 70 from the beveled edges 72. The shape of the aperture 70 also forms the ball or footpad of the animal paw print as described below. The snowshoe body 20 also includes a talon 80 which serves to improve traction during use of the snowshoe. Talon 80 is formed as an integral part of body 20. Claws 82, binding mounting holes 84 and hinge 86 are all formed as part of talon 80. The hinge 86 includes a reduced thickness and width to allow the talon 80 to pivot relative to body 20 to allow for changes in terrain and walking motion.

[0018] A binding mounting stud 88 is formed as part of body 20 between aperture 70 and rear pad 60. A hole 90 extends through the mounting stud 88. The binding 200, as shown in FIG. 3, attaches to the body 20 by bolts 202, 204 extending through the binding 200 and holes 84 in the talon 80 and by engaging with the mounting stud 88 and screw 206. The present invention is not limited to the specific binding described herein.

[0019] The contoured side walls 24 of the body 20 extend downwardly a height “h”, from the beveled surface 28 of upper surface 22. In the preferred embodiment, “h” ranges from about one-half inch to one inch. Other heights can be used depending on the desired depth of the imprint formed from the snowshoe.

[0020] The bottom 100 of the body 20, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a recess 102 formed adjacent the interior of the sidewalls 24. The sidewalls 24 in cooperation with the recess 102 create the outer edges of the imprint from the snowshoes. The recesses 104, 106, 108, 110 of the claws have a lesser depth than does the recess 102 to define the imprint of the “claws” of the animal imprint. Recesses 112, 114, 116, 118 of the knuckles also have a greater depth than does the recess 102. These recesses cooperate to form the animal footprint in the snow.

[0021] Inner sidewalls 120, 122 are formed in the recess 102 to create cavities 124, 126. Cavity 124 forms the footpad of the animal imprint while cavity 126 forms the heel of the paw of the animal imprint. The aperture 70 extends through cavity 124 to allow the talon 80 to pivot through for engaging the ground surface. Likewise, the raised edges on inner sidewalls 130, 132 provide additional engagement for traction. Other recesses, cavities and sidewalls can be added or the existing structures altered to vary the imprint formed by the snowshoe.

[0022] In use, the snowshoe 10 is attached to the footwear of the wearer by the binding 200. As the weight of the wearer pushes the snowshoe 10 downward to engage the snow or other surface, an imprint of the lower surface 26 of the snowshoe 10 is formed in the snow. This imprint is the reverse image of the lower surface 26.

[0023] Other shapes of the snowshoe may be created as well under the scope of the present inventive concept. For example, the shape of the snowshoe can be a unique shape which may signify some imaginary creature or object, such as a monster, alien, legendary creature, etc. Other snowshoes might signify a unique identifying imprint that has significant to the wearer or others. The present inventive concept, as set forth in the accompanying claims, covers not only snowshoes which create an imprint in the form an animal paw print, but other unique, fanciful or ornamental shapes which provide entertainment and amusement. 

I claim:
 1. A snowshoe, said snowshoe comprising: a body; and means on said body forming an imprint of a unique shape in a surface upon which said snowshoe is engaged.
 2. The snowshoe of claim 1, wherein said body includes: an exterior frame in the shape of an animal paw.
 3. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body for forming an imprint includes: an exterior frame in the shape of an animal paw; and recessed portions in the lower surface of said body adjacent said exterior frame.
 4. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body for forming an imprint includes: indentations in the lower surface of said body forming the imprint of an animal paw print.
 5. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said body further includes: an upper surface formed in the shape of an animal paw; and means on said upper surface for attaching the snowshoe to the foot of a person.
 6. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said snowshoe further includes: an aperture extending through said body; a talon; and means for pivotal attachment of said talon through said aperture.
 7. The snowshoe of claim 1 where said means on said body forms an imprint in the shape of a fanciful design.
 8. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body forms an imprint in the shape of an ornamental design.
 9. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said means on said body forms an imprint in the shape of an imaginary figure.
 10. The snowshoe of claim 1 wherein said base is formed as a single molded plastic unit.
 11. A snowshoe, said snowshoe comprising: a molded plastic body having an upper surface and a lower surface; binding means attached to said upper surface; and means formed on said lower surface to create an imprint of a unique shape in the surface on which said snowshoe engages.
 12. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said lower surface to create an imprint of a unique shape includes: a plurality of recesses of differing depths and shapes.
 13. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said lower surface to crate an imprint of a unique shape includes: said unique shape is in the form of an animal footprint.
 14. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said lower surface to crate an imprint of a unique shape includes: said unique shape is in the form of a footprint of a fanciful creature.
 15. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said lower surface to crate an imprint of a unique shape includes: said unique shape is in the form of a footprint of a legendary creature.
 16. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said means formed on said lower surface to create an imprint of a unique shape includes: said unique shape is in the form of an impression of an ornamental design.
 17. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said body includes: a friction-engaging pad formed on said upper surface.
 18. The snowshoe of claim 11 wherein said body includes: an outer surface formed in the shape of said unique shape. 